Sanders CountyPower Outage History
What this grade means
Worse than average — more frequent or longer outages than most counties. This county's recorded history shows more frequent outages and/or longer restoration times than most US counties over the same 12-year period. If you live here, it's worth taking backup power more seriously than an average household would.
Outages by year
Outages by month (seasonality)
Worst outage events on record
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 13, 2021 | 107 hrs | 7,428 (93%) | High Wind |
| Dec 17, 2025 | 104 hrs | 6,903 (87%) | Flood |
| Sep 7, 2020 | 59 hrs | 3,568 (45%) | High Wind |
| Sep 8, 2025 | 4 hrs | 2,748 (34%) | Unnamed event |
| Dec 8, 2025 | 2 hrs | 2,674 (34%) | Winter Weather |
Was There an Outage on a Specific Date?
Pick a date to see whether a power outage was recorded for Sanders County, Montana that day.
Over the 9 years from 2017 to 2025, Sanders County recorded 438 distinct power outage events, averaging 3.6 hours per event.
The single worst outage on record in Sanders County started January 13, 2021 (High Wind), lasting 107 hours and leaving up to 7,428 customers without power (93% of the county) at its peak.
January has historically been the worst month for outages in Sanders County, with 61 events recorded during that month across the dataset.
Based on this history, Sanders County earns a Reliability Grade of D, placing it in the 20th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).
Similar counties in Montana
Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Sanders County.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | F | 14th |
| Madison County | D | 31st |
| Granite County | D | 33rd |
| Flathead County | D | 35th |
| Chouteau County | D | 37th |
Most reliable counties nationally
The top 3 counties nationally by reliability grade and percentile.
| County | State | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | South Dakota | A | 100th |
| Clearwater County | Minnesota | A | 99th |
| Limestone County | Alabama | A | 99th |
Least reliable counties nationally
The bottom 3 counties nationally by reliability grade and percentile.
| County | State | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | West Virginia | F | 0th |
| Lincoln County | West Virginia | F | 0th |
| Cameron Parish | Louisiana | F | 0th |
FAQ
How often does power go out in Sanders County?
Between 2017 and 2025, Sanders County recorded 438 outage events, averaging 3.6 hours each.
What is Sanders County's reliability grade?
Sanders County has a Reliability Grade of D, in the 20th national percentile.
What was the worst power outage in Sanders County?
The worst outage on record started January 13, 2021 (High Wind), lasting 107 hours and affecting up to 7,428 customers.